Right now, the areas in which we’re seeing the most demand are security, advanced manufacturing, cyber-physical systems, marketing automation, business intelligence, ERP and analytics.

Silicon Valley is not the only place you can find these jobs. The East Coast is teeming with high-tech jobs right now. My home state of Pennsylvania is a hotbed for healthcare IT while three other major East Coast cities ranked in the top 10 for tech startups.

With a larger pool of openings, it’s a job seeker’s market. What does that mean for hiring managers? You’re going to need to put in more effort to find “the one.” The right candidate isn’t going to walk through the door, you’ll need to go out and find him or her. With so few tech professionals out of work, you’ll likely have to incentivize someone to leave their current company. Recruiters can help you comb through their network and social media to find the perfect hire quickly.

While the going is good for IT now, will it stay that way? Dice claims lots of talented professionals have been rendered immobile due to a housing market that has yet to pick up. And according to Beyond.com, universities are experiencing a shortage of STEM grads, which means fewer qualified candidates to go around.

What are your thoughts about the current state of the industry? Leave us a comment below.

So you got fired. While it’s natural to feel like a failure, don’t. There are plenty of successful people who have been in your shoes – Oprah, Walt Disney; even Steve Jobs was fired from his own company!

During her commencement speech at Wake Forest University, Jill Abramson, the recently ousted executive editor of the New York Times, recalled something her father used to say. “It meant more…to see us deal with a setback and try to bounce back, than watch how we handled our success.” Makes sense.

What matters now is how you overcome this hurdle. With the right approach, you can end up in a better position than before. Here’s how you can start turning things around.

Make Nice

However tempting, don’t burn any bridges. You want the reputation that precedes you to be a positive one. Keep the lines of communication open with colleagues. You never know when you’ll work with them again.

Get Praise

Line up your references; you’re going to need them. Round up at least three good ones. If possible, make one of those from your most recent employer – even if they weren’t your direct supervisor. This should help dispel any negativity surrounding your recent dismissal.

Work On Yourself

This is a good moment to reflect. Are there things you can do to make yourself a better professional? Whether it’s taking a class, achieving a new certification or refining your presentation skills, now is the time to do it. Who knows? It could pave the way to your next job.

Look Good On Paper

And online. And in person. Polish your resume and social media profiles. You don’t have to start explaining employment gaps just yet. Be ready for interviews. Dust off that power suit and practice running through typical interview questions – including why you left your last job.

Get Out

Hit the pavement. Let it be known that you’re looking. Don’t be ashamed. Leverage social media. Reach out to former colleagues, classmates, clients and recruiters – anyone who can help you find a job. Try to meet in person. Network over coffee, lunch or happy hour. Remember, your next job offer will come from someone, not some job board.

Looking for a recruiter to help you land a new high-tech sales role? Contact us.

Did you know that over 60 percent of IT hiring managers screened their job candidates via social networking sites or online search engines, according to a CareerBuilder study? While it’s common sense to keep your social media profiles business casual, are you maximizing your professional online presence? Here’s how to leverage the top social media outlets to your advantage.

LinkedIn

Whether you’re hiring or being hired, professionals use LinkedIn as their go-to informal screening tool. So, first impressions are crucial. First, make sure your profile is 100 percent complete. Get and give some endorsements and recommendations. This should fill in any gaps that can cause an eyesore. Then, grow your network. Follow companies and thought leaders in your field and connect with colleagues and clients from your past and present. Join some industry groups and engage in discussions. Make a post from time to time. You don’t necessarily need to frequent LinkedIn every day, but at least make sure all your information is up to date and you have a profile picture. People like to see there is a real person behind all those qualifications.

Twitter

While Twitter may seem confusing (hashtags, at signs and those darn 140-character limits), it’s actually a great resource to aggregate up-to-the-minute (seconds, really) media in your industry. Like LinkedIn, you can follow thought leaders and companies that interest you and organize them by lists. Twitter gives you the opportunity to become a thought leader yourself and grow your own list of followers. If this is your intent, it’s imperative you stay active tweeting and retweeting. You won’t attract any new followers with a stale feed.

Facebook

If your intent is to keep Facebook strictly for fun, take some precautions. Make sure your profile and cover photos are presentable – those are public. Check your privacy settings and set them so that only you and/or your friends can see your posts. You can also limit who can search for your profile or ask to become your friend. You should also review all the posts you are tagged in before they are posted to your timeline.

More Social Media

If you have other social media profiles, such as Google+, Instagram and Pinterest, make sure they paint a positive portrait of you as well. You can turn on your privacy setting in Instagram and Twitter to screen potential followers. Beyond saving face, you can develop your own professional portfolio website and/or blog to bolster your online presence. Just remember, social media is there to help you be a better professional but it’s okay to have a little fun with it too.